PUBLICATION

Thyroid Hormones Deficiency Impairs Male Germ Cell Development: A Cross Talk Between Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Thyroid, and-Gonadal Axes in Zebrafish

Authors
Rodrigues, M.S., Tovo-Neto, A., Rosa, I.F., Doretto, L.B., Fallah, H.P., Habibi, H.R., Nóbrega, R.H.
ID
ZDB-PUB-220602-10
Date
2022
Source
Frontiers in cell and developmental biology   10: 865948 (Journal)
Registered Authors
Keywords
germ cell, hypothyroidism, methimazole, spermatogenesis, thyroid hormones, zebrafish
MeSH Terms
none
PubMed
35646887 Full text @ Front Cell Dev Biol
Abstract
In vertebrates, thyroid hormones are critical players in controlling different physiological processes such as development, growth, metabolism among others. There is evidence in mammals that thyroid hormones are also an important component of the hormonal system that controls reproduction, although studies in fish remain poorly investigated. Here, we tested this hypothesis by investigating the effects of methimazole-induced hypothyroidism on the testicular function in adult zebrafish. Treatment of fish with methimazole, in vivo, significantly altered zebrafish spermatogenesis by inhibiting cell differentiation and meiosis, as well as decreasing the relative number of spermatozoa. The observed impairment of spermatogenesis by methimazole was correlated with significant changes in transcript levels for several genes implicated in the control of reproduction. Using an in vitro approach, we also demonstrated that in addition to affecting the components of the brain-pituitary-peripheral axis, T3 (triiodothyronine) also exerts direct action on the testis. These results reinforce the hypothesis that thyroid hormones are an essential element of multifactorial control of reproduction and testicular function in zebrafish and possibly other vertebrate species.
Genes / Markers
Figures
Expression
Phenotype
Mutations / Transgenics
Human Disease / Model
Sequence Targeting Reagents
Fish
Antibodies
Orthology
Engineered Foreign Genes
Mapping